Medicament dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for dispensing inhalable medicaments which dispenser dispenses the liquid medicaments in a mist by nebulizing a metered amount of the liquid. The liquid is metered by a rotary piston pump and a piston and cylinder arrangement within the dispenser compresses a small amount of air when a release mechanism is triggered to carry the dispensed liquid such that the patients will inhale a mist.

United States Patent 1191 Phillips y [45] June 25, 1974 v MEDICAMENTDISPENSER 3,187,748 6/1965 Mitchell el al. 128/173 R 9, 19 B 2 3 [75]Inventor 3 Stud) clty 2/1923 0:2 22/ 3 83 callf- 3,456,644 7/1969T111151, 128/173 R Assigneez Riker Laboratories, n 3,647,143 7 Gauth1eret a1 Northridge, Calif. E R h d A G d Primary xamineric ar au et [22]Filed: 1972 Assistant Examiner-.Lee S. Cohen [2]] App], No 278,538Attorney, Agent, or Firm A1exander, Sell, Steldt &

. DeLal-lurlt [52] US. Cl 128/173, 222/193, 239/350, I

v 128/208, 128/211 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl A61m 11/00 A 1 f ha! b[58] Field Of Search 128/173, 173.1, 194, 201, if zf "sptinsmhg emamfiims 128/211, 208, 266, 222, 185, 186; 239/350, 99 P g F spensest "1mlSt I n6. UlZll'lg a metere amotmt O the lqul The hquld 1s metered by arotary p1ston pump and a 402.2, 335, 383 385 p1ston and cyhnderarrangement within the dlspenser [561 5; 51332162023351; (1252151651 333UNITED STATES PATENTS r I such that the patientsv will inhale a mist.3,043,524 7/1962 Boris et a1 239/350 3,180,535 4/1965 Ward 222/4022 X 9Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 23 55 e9 /7 22 I 36 0 a 24 Z6 2 30 4 3 3'2 3MEDICAMENT DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto a dispenser for medicaments to be inhaled by the patient, and in oneaspect to a dispenser which will provide the liquid in a mist form suchthat it is easily inhaled without the necessity of having the medicinecombined with a liquid propellant.

Examples of the dispensers for medicaments which are packaged incontainers with a propellant are illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 3,157,179and 3,456,644. While these patents are only examples of numerous patentsrelating to dispensers where the medicament is either a solid or aliquidfland soluble or insoluble in the propellant such as the Freon"types of propellants they show the present state of the art oninhalation dispensers. An alternative dispensing device is shown in US.Pat. No. 2,95l,644, wherein an appropriate gas under pressure inacontainer is used to atomize the medicaments from a reservoir so long asthe container is open to allow the gas to develop a partial vacuum overa tube. The tube extends into the reservoir for the fluent anddischarges it by atomization.

These prior art devices however all utilize the propellants in somemanner to discharge the medicament. The propellantrequires carefulpackaging and it is the purpose of the present invention to avoid thenecessity of using propellants in dispensing the medicament and to avoidthe packaging requirements which are inherent with the use ofpressurized medicaments.

Other prior art exists where atomizers are used to inject a medicamentor breath freshener into the oral cavity. These devices have notprovided any means for expelling measured amounts of the liquid. It isonly coincidental if equalamounts are expelled by different personsoperating the devices. Measured amounts to afford prescribed treatmentis an essential element of most medicament dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a dispenser formedicements such that meteredamounts of the medicament will bedischarged in a nebulized state and available for inhalation by apatient. The dispensercomprises a tubular housing having a generallycylindrical shape and formed with a laterally extending mouthpiece. Intothe housing is assembled a piston like body having a reservoir for theliquid, a metering pump having an inlet communicating with saidreservoir and an outlet communicating with the mouthpiece of thehousing. An op erator is provided for operating a movable piston in themetering pump to dispense a metered amount of said liquid from theoutlet under pressure. A mechanical actuator actuates the operator uponthe triggering of resettable release means which release said mechanicalactuator. Also provided within the housing is a cooperating structurefor compressing'air and directing the air toward said outlet of themetering pump. This air com-' pressing means is also operated by themechanical actuator and carries the fluid discharged from the pumpoutlet through the mouthpiece and nebulizes the same to make itavailable for inhalation by the patient.

The present invention provides a novel dispenser where the medicamentdoes not have to be packaged with a propellant and one wherein theambient air isment may be supplied in a replaceable canister including ametering pump or in a replaceable cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the,dispenser during operation of the dispenser; 7

FIG. 5 is auverticalv sectional viewof the dispenser upon completion ofthe operation of the dispenser to dispense a metered amount of liquid;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG.3; and

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along line I 7-7 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring. now to the drawingwherein like parts in the several views have similar reference numerals,there is disclosed a dispenser 10 comprising a tubular housing 11 formedwith a hollowed laterally projecting discharge passageway or. mouthpiece12 to aid the patient in inhaling the discharge from the dispenser. Asillustrated the inner diameter of the housing 11 is changed to form ashoulder 14 intermediate the length thereof. The diameter is smaller atthe end near the mouthpiece 12. Into the smaller diameter end of thehousing is fitted a base 15 which is secured by a bayonet joint. Thebase 15 has a first large bore I6 which receives the body 17 defining areplaceable canister. An opening 18 in the sidewall of the base 15 willcommunicate with the mouthpiece 12. The opening 18 as shown in FIGS. 3,4, and 5 also communicates with a small diameter passageway- 19 leadingfrom an axially extending bore 20 having a smaller diameter than that ofthe'bore 16. The passageway 19 is part of the air compression means 7which will be hereinafter described.

The canister 17 is generally cylindrical and is formed with a firstaxially extending bore 22 forming cylindrical walls defining a reservoirfor a quantity of liquid and a second bore 23 which when the canister 17is in position will align and communicate with the bore 20 in thetending passage 25 with the reservoir 22 to define an inlet into thepump and an opposed passage 26 communicates with the opening 18 in thebase 15 to define an outlet from the pump. A tube or nozzle may befitted at the end of passage 26 to direct and change the discharge. Arecess 28 formed about the bore 24 receives a compression spring 29which drives a flange 30 secured to a piston 31 toward a charge ormetering position for the rotary piston pump. The piston 31 has a pairof obliquely positioned 0 rings 32 surrounding the piston which 0 ringsseal with the bore 24. On the exv tended end of the piston 31 is a camfollower 33 engageable by an operator 36 defining means forreciprocating and sequentially oscillating the piston through a givenangle of rotational movement. The amount of rotation is preferably lessthan 90 but can be about 180. The reservoir 22 is sealed and vented by asuitable stopper 35.

The operator 36 has the form of a long slender rod having an axiallyextending tapered cam 37 formed adjacent one end, which uponreciprocation of the rod will cause a reciprocation of the piston 31. Atopposite ends of the axially extending cam 37 are cam surfaces 38 and 39which cooperate with the cam follower 33 on the extended end of thepiston 31 causing the same to rotate about its axis in one direction orthe other. Rotation of the piston 31 changes the position of the obliquerings 32 relative to the inlet 25 and outlet 26 such that liquid may beproperly metered by the pump and discharged from the pump. The end ofthe operator 36 opposite the end formed with the cams is formed with ahead 40. The head is placed in a key hole slot 51 to secure the rod 36to a cylindrical body 412 to be hereinafter described. Intermittent theends of the operator 36 is a slot 43 which receives a set screw limitingits travel and permitting rotation of thesame during operation. Anaxially extending groove 41 in the rod 36 provides an air passage fromthe top of the canister 17 along the rod to the bore and to the airpassage 19.

An air compressing means is provided in the dispenser to deliver acharge of compressed air upon operation ofthe dispenser. This charge ofcompressed air is directed toward the liquid outlet of the rotary pistonter body 17 and the cylinder 42 is driven downward over the canister 17to compress the air. This air compressing means also comprises thenarrow groove 41 formed in the operator 36, which permits the compressedair to movedownward through the bore 23 and the bore 20 into thepassageway 19 to be directed toward the outlet. Surrounding the openend, of the cylinder 42 is a flange 48. This flange slides along theinner bore of a cap 50 to be hereinafter described and is driven towardthe shoulder M of the housing 11. The closed end of the bore 45 isformed with the key hole slot 51 in which the head of the operator 36may be received and placed in a fixed position. A limit screw 52cooperating with the slot 43 for determining the position of theoperator 36 is threadably received through the wall of the canister body17 into slot 43.

Mechanical actuating means are provided for moving the cylinder 42relative to the canister 17. In the illustrated embodiment themechanical actuator means comprises a compression spring 55 whichsurrounds the cylinder 42 and bears against a flange 56 formed on asecond sleeve 58 which triggers the resettable release means to actuatethe actuator to drive the air compressing means and the operator. Thesleeve 58 is cylindrical having a closed end wall 59 and is manuallyreciprocated in the dispenser. The sleeve 58 is formed with axiallyextending slots 60'and 61 in its side walls to afford limited movementof the sleeve to compress spring 55 before unlocking the release meansand the energy of the actuator. The slots 60 and 61 do not extend downto the flange56.

The resettable release means comprise a pair of detents 63 and 641 whichare received in a diametrical bore 65 in the closed end of the cylinder42. The detents 63 and 64 are spring biased outwardly by a compressionspring 66 toward the interior walls of the shell 58 and extend throughthe slots 66 and 61 toward the inner cylindrical surface of cap 56 toseat above an inwardly projecting rib 63 formed in the cap St). The capis seated in the top of the housing ill and extends down to the shoulder14. The cap 56 holds the sleeves 58 and 42 in place between the shoulder1 and rib 68.

The detents are placed in locked position by lifting the sleeve 58. Thedetents are biased inwardly by the rib 68 engaging beveled ends thereofand then are snapped into place above the rib 68 when the bottom edge ofthe slots 60 and 6t reach a position above rib 68.

A keyway 69 in the cap 519 and a pin '70 in the flange 48 of the sleeve42 prevent rotation of the sleeve and displacement of the operator 36from the key hole slot 51.

In the set or readied position (FIG. 3) the detents 63 and 64 arepositioned above the rib 63 and the spring is in its expanded positionbetween the flanges 56 and 48. The piston 3t has been rotated by the cam39 and follower 33 to close the inlet 25 and the outlet 26 is open. Theoperator wishing 'to expell a metered amount of the medicament thenplaces the thumb against the base 15 and the forefinger and/or the indexfinger upon the end wall 59 of the sleeve 58 to force the sleeve 58 intothe cap 56. The operator should be covering the mouthpiece t2 andbeginning to inhale. Continued movement of the sleeve 58 thus causescompression of the spring 55 and eventually the top edges of the slotsand 611 engage the beveled surfaces of the detents 63 and 64 drivingthem inward and off of the rib 68. When the detents disengage the rib 68the energy of the compressed spring 55 (FIG. 4) drives the sleeve 42down over-the canister 117. The pressure upon the shell 58 to compressthe spring 55 and then the continued pressure or follow through providedby the operator affords complete movement of the shell 42 and actuatesthe operator 36 forcing the operator down into the bores 23 and 20. Thisdrives the piston 31 inward into the bore 24 forcing the medicamenttherein out through the outlet 26. During the time the compressed airbetween the top of the canister 17 and the inner cylinder of the shell62 is forced down through the groove 41 into the bore 20 and through thepassageway 19 the medicament is expelled under pressure through theoutlet 26 to be struck by the air discharged from the passageway 19 whenthe air pressure is highest. The medicament is thus carried by the airout through the opening 118 into the passageway of the mouthpiece l2 andinto the mouth and air canals of the operator.

When the shell 42 meets the limit of its travel by contact with theupper surface of the canister 17 the operator 36 has driven the piston31 to its full inward position and the cam follower 33 on the extendedend of the piston has contacted the cam surface 38. Cam 38 causes thecam follower to rotate the piston 31 and the 0 rings 32 to assume theposition shown in FIG. 5. The operator will now raise the shell 5%,lifting with it the sleeve 42 and the operator 36. As this is done thespring 29 reciprocates the piston 31 outwardly and the pump againcommunicates with the inlet 25 and a metered amount of the medicament isdrawn into the cylinder 24 forward of the ring 32.. As the shell 58 islifted the detents 63 and 64 are forced inwardly by rib 68 engagingtheir beveled edges and then are forced outwardly again to seat on theupper side of the rib 68 in the cap 50. Cam 39 again contacts thefollower 33 to rotate the piston 31, turning the 0 rings 32 to aposition cutting off communication between the pump and the inlet 25.The device is now positioned for a subsequent operation.

In an operative example, the air discharged fromthe passageway 19 tonebulize the liquid can be atpressures between and 8 pounds persquareinchat standardternperature and atmosphericpressure. The bore 45of the shell 42 has a diameter of about 0.85 inch and ittravels a totalof 0.8 inch. Theshell travels about 0.4 inch to release the spring andwhen released the pressure therein is about 8 pounds. The spring and thecontinued movement maintained by the operator then drives the shell 42.The amount of liquid dispensed may be about 5, 6, or 7.microliters,depending on pump capa y For preferred operation, a predetermined amountof air under a predetermined amount of pressure is directed at thedischarged liquid. The predetermined amount of liquid is introduced intothe air stream when the air is at its peak pressure.

Having thus described the invention with respect to a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that certain modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is: v

1. A dispenser for medicaments such that metered amounts of themedicament will be discharged in a state to be orally received duringinhalation, said dispenser comprising:

a housing formed with a discharge passageway,

a reservoir for a quantity of liquid disposed in said housing,

metering pump means having an inlet communicating with said reservoirand an outlet communicating with said passageway for dispensing underpressure metered amountsof liquid from said reservoir,

operator means for operating said metering pump means to. dispense saidliquid from said outlet under pressure,

air compressing means within said housing for placing a volume of airunder pressure and for directing said air under pressure toward saidoutlet, and

mechanical actuating means for actuating said operator means and saidair compressing means whereby a metered amount of liquid is dispensedfrom said outlet and struck by said compressed air to be discharged withsaid air as a spray.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 comprising resettable release meansconnected between said housing and said air compressing means forreleasing said mechanical actuating means upon an operator applyingpressure to said release means.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said air compressing meanscomprises:

a hollow cylinder and a mating piston member, said cylinder and pistonmember being interfitted within said housing and mounted for relativemovement, and

a passageway leading from within said cylinder to a position adjacentsaid outlet.

4. A dispenser according to claim 3 wherein said mechanical actuatingmeans comprises a helical compression spring disposed about the outersurface of said cylinder, said cylinder having a first position relativeto said piston member wherein said compression spring is undercompression and in which first position said cylinder is retained bysaid release means, and. a second position relative to said pistonwherein air has been driven from said cylinder by said springcompression being dissipated, and said operator means has actuated saidmetering pump means.

5. A dispenser according to claim d wherein said metering pump means isa rotary piston pump comprising means defining a cylindrical bore, apiston slidably re-- ceived in said bore, spring means urging saidpiston out of said bore, passage means communicating with said bore todefine said inlet and outlet and seal means on said piston forconnecting the bore in fluid flow communicationwith said reservoir whensaid cylinder is in said first position and with said outlet when saidcylinder is in said second position.

6. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein resettable release means areprovided for releasing said mechanical actuating means and comprises:

detent means supported by said cylinder,

shoulder means on said housing engageable by said detent means to holdsaid cylinder in said first position, and

manually actuatable means for compressing said compression spring withsaid cylinder in said first position and for unlocking said detent meansand said shouldermeans to allow movement of said cylinder to said secondposition.

7. A dispenser according to claim ll wherein said metering pump means isa rotary piston pump comprising means defining a cylindrical bore, apiston slidably received in said bore, seal means on said pistonconnecting said bore with said inlet and then with said outlet uponoperation of said actuating means, spring means urging said piston outof said bore, and passage means communicating with said bore to definesaid inlet and outlet.

8. A dispenser for an inhalation medicament comprising a tubular housinghaving a laterally projecting mouthpiece, a supply canister ofmedicament within said housing, means for metering a quantity ofmedicament for discharge upon actuation of an actuator on saiddispenser, wherein the improvement comprises:

a rotary piston pump means for discharging a predetermined quantity ofmedicament from said canister and discharging the same from an outletunder pressure, and

means within said housing for providing a quantity of compressed airdirected at said outlet and into said mouthpiece to carry saiddischarged medicament into said mouthpiece upon actuation of saidactuator.

9. A dispenser according to claim 8 wherein said canister comprises:

a cylindrical shaped body member having an axially extending boreextending therethrough and a second bore forming a reservoir, saidsecond bore extending toward one end, said body having a third boreextending generally diametrically and having third bore with saidreservoir and said one end, and a spring positioned about said pistonurging it from said bore.

1. A dispenser for medicaments such that metered amounts of themedicament will be discharged in a state to be orally received duringinhalation, said dispenser comprising: a housing formed with a dischargepassageway, a reservoir for a quantity of liquid disposed in saidhousing, metering pump means having an inlet communicating with saidreservoir and an outlet communicating with said passageway fordispensing under pressure metered amounts of liquid from said reservoir,operator means for operating said metering pump means to dispense saidliquid from said outlet under pressure, air compressing means withinsaid housing for placing a volume of air under pressure and fordirecting said air under pressure toward said outlet, and mechanicalactuating means for actuating said operator means and said aircompressing means whereby a metered amount of liquid is dispensed fromsaid outlet and struck by said compressed air to be discharged with saidair as a spray.
 2. A dispenser according to claim 1 comprisingresettable release means connected between said housing and said aircompressing means for releasing said mechanical actuating means upon anoperator applying pressure to said release means.
 3. A dispenseraccording to claim 1 wherein said air compressing means comprises: ahollow cylinder and a mating piston member, said cylinder and pistonmember being interfitted within said housing and mounted for relativemovement, and a passageway leading from within said cylinder to aposition adjacent said outlet.
 4. A dispenser according to claim 3wherein said mechanical actuating means comprises a helical compressionspring disposed about the outer surface of said cylinder, said cylinderhaving a first position relative to said piston member wherein saidcompression spring is under compression and in which first position saidcylinder is retained by said release means, and a second positionrelative to said piston wherein air has been driven from said cylinderby said spring compression being dissipated, and said operator means hasactuated said metering pump means.
 5. A dispenser according to claim 4wherein said metering pump means is a rotary piston pump comprisingmeans defining a cylindrical bore, a piston slidably received in saidbore, spring means urging said piston out of said bore, passage meanscommunicating with said bore to define said inlet and outlet and sealmeans on said piston for connecting the bore in fluid flow communicationwith said reservoir when said cylinder is in said first position andwith said outlet when said cylinder is in said second position.
 6. Adispenser according to claim 4 wherein resettable release means areprovided for releasing said mechanical actuating means and comprises:detent means supported by said cylinder, shoulder means on said housingengageable by said detent means to hold said cylinder in said firstposition, and manually actuatable means for compressing said compressionspring with said cylinder in said first position and for unlocking saiddetent means and said shoulder means to allow movement of said cylinderto said second position.
 7. A dispenser according to claim 1 whereinsaid metering pump means is a rotary piston pump comprising meansdefining a cylindrical bore, a piston slidably received in said bore,seal means on said piston connecting said bore with said inlet and thenwith said outlet upon operation of said actuating means, spring meansurging said piston out of said bore, and passage means communicaTingwith said bore to define said inlet and outlet.
 8. A dispenser for aninhalation medicament comprising a tubular housing having a laterallyprojecting mouthpiece, a supply canister of medicament within saidhousing, means for metering a quantity of medicament for discharge uponactuation of an actuator on said dispenser, wherein the improvementcomprises: a rotary piston pump means for discharging a predeterminedquantity of medicament from said canister and discharging the same froman outlet under pressure, and means within said housing for providing aquantity of compressed air directed at said outlet and into saidmouthpiece to carry said discharged medicament into said mouthpiece uponactuation of said actuator.
 9. A dispenser according to claim 8 whereinsaid canister comprises: a cylindrical shaped body member having anaxially extending bore extending therethrough and a second bore forminga reservoir, said second bore extending toward one end, said body havinga third bore extending generally diametrically and having passagewaysconnecting said third bore to said reservoir and to said one end, andsaid rotary piston pump means includes a piston slidably fitted in saidthird bore, said piston having means affording selective communicationof said third bore with said reservoir and said one end, and a springpositioned about said piston urging it from said bore.